Kevin Bronson on January 9th, 2014

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Remember those sibling harmonies and the seemingly hereditary charm that made the Belle Brigade a bright light among a constellation of California folk bands? They’re all but obscured by a maelstrom of effects and tribal rhythms on the band’s new single “Ashes.” It’s a different direction for Barbara and Ethan Gruska, who spent most of last year recalibrating after parting ways with Warner Bros. Records. They’ve been scooped up by ATO Records (hometo My Morning Jacket, Alabama Shakes, Allen Stone, among many others), which will release their sophomore album “Just Because” on Feb. 11. Shawn Everett engineered and co-produced the new album, which, like the band’s debut, features contributions from local luminaries Blake Mills and Bram Inscore.

||| Download: “Ashes” by exchanging your email address in the widget after the jump

||| Live: The Belle Brigade does a Tuesday night residency in February at the Echo.

||| Previously: “Losers,” “Sweet Louise”, “Where Not to Look for Freedom” video